Breakfast might be touted as “the most important meal of the day” and a good dinner keeps you full at night, but Lunch, you are something else. I love lunch. On days when my appreciation of lunch becomes more of an infatuation, my face breaks out in the biggest, goofiest smile and my speech convenes on a single word: “Lunch!” repeated in excited tones. Sometimes I am even moved to song “Lunch, Lunch, Lunch – you are so delicious!”

Why do I love lunch? For one, lunch is a sacred break in the day. On weekdays at noon sharp I can rise from my desk without fear of reprisal and walk toward the break room to fetch my precious lunch. Then for a few glorious minutes I can bask in the deliciousness of my meal. No judging, just bliss.

Second, I get to eat some of my favorite foods like peanut butter and jelly and sliced apples. Don’t get me wrong, I love breakfast foods: scrambled egg sandwiches, mimosas, toast, reese’s puffs, and waffles! Don’t forget the waffles!

But lunch has a trump card that is never as good at breakfast, and that is:

L E F T O V E R S ! ! 

When else can you eat what you had for dinner last night and feel like a queen? At lunch I tell you! Because at dinner, that just means you were too lazy to cook a new dinner (and this is something I have no qualms about confessing) but at lunch, you look like the real home chef! (Just don’t let them catch you eating it Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…)

Third, on $5 Fridays at Schilletter dining hall at Clemson University during the school year, I can have a giant ice cream sundae for dessert including two scoops of chocolate ice cream, a mountain of Oreo bits, and chocolate AND caramel sauce to top it off. Oh, and this kind of decadence needs a spill plate. Pizzah!

Fourth and finally, if either breakfast or dinner have a musical ode, I haven’t heard it. These are my people and Lunch is my meal.